Chess Puzzle #2JNkw — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1416 · Intermediate · attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; rooks a8/d1; bishop e5; knight a3; pawns a2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks b2/c6; bishop f8; knight e4; pawns b6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight e4→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook a8→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rd8# — rook d1→d8, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

attraction, mate, mate in 2, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Rd8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: R4bk1/4pp1p/1pr3p1/4B3/4n3/N1P5/Pr3PPP/3R2K1 b - - 5 21

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.